A Fire Stone is an ore containing fire energy within it, a miraculous stone capable of evolving certain Pokémon.
Besides that, it even has some special uses.
Draconis remembered seeing technology related to Fire Stones on Chris.
[Bathhouse: Unlock the method of building a bathhouse using coal, Fire Stones, and other ores as fuel. Required for exchange: 1000 Satisfaction.]
A Fire Stone continuously releases energy from within; the greater the energy, the higher the temperature it produces, subsequently affecting the water temperature.
Draconis made a mental note of this location, planning to send people back later for a detailed investigation and mining of the vein.
Ryan left in a hurry and soon returned with Candy.
"Your Highness Draconis, do I just need to give the Candy to that monster?" Ryan asked, a little excited.
"That's not up to me; it depends on the monster's personality. However, even if it doesn't work the first time, as long as you try a few more times and let it slowly get used to you, the chances might increase," Draconis said.
"I see..." Ryan thought for a moment, then looked at the Simisear with sparkling eyes.
Never mind, I'll try it first!
Ryan cautiously approached the Simisear, which was soaking in the hot spring.
The Simisear had been comfortably soaking in the hot spring, eyes half-closed.
But suddenly, it heard someone approaching.
"Bak?"
The Simisear opened its eyes, and what greeted it was Ryan's smiling face.
"Hehe, Simisear, do you want to try these Candy? They're very delicious!" Ryan said to the Simisear, imitating Draconis's way of speaking to Dratini.
"Bak..."
The Simisear looked down at the Candy in the human's hand; it didn't move.
"Huh?" Ryan was a little confused and couldn't help but cast a pleading look at Draconis.
Draconis: "...Why don't you unwrap that Candy first and then try?"
Ryan slapped his forehead, only then remembering that he was too excited and hadn't even unwrapped it!
He quickly peeled off the Candy wrapper, revealing the translucent, sweet-smelling Candy inside.
"Bak..."
The Simisear's attention was indeed instantly drawn to the Candy; its eyes fixated on it, and its mouth involuntarily began to water.
"Eat!" Ryan offered the Candy.
The Simisear could no longer resist; it picked up the Candy with its hand and put it into its mouth to eat.
Feeling the sweet taste it had never experienced before, a happy expression involuntarily appeared on the Simisear's face.
"Bak~!"
"Next, try inviting it," Draconis said.
"Yes!" Ryan looked at the Simisear again, then tentatively began, "Simisear, would you like to come back to my place with me? I have lots of delicious Candy at home!"
Draconis: "..." Why did that sound a bit like Brother Jie?
Upon hearing this, the Simisear looked at the unfamiliar human in front of it, and visible hesitation appeared on its face.
But for some unknown reason, the Simisear ultimately shook its head and refused.
Ryan felt a little disheartened by this.
Draconis comforted him, "Don't be discouraged. This is only your first meeting with the Simisear, and it's not familiar with you yet. Later, whenever you have time, you can bring some Candy here and talk to it. Perhaps once it gets to know you, it will agree."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Ryan quickly composed himself.
He looked at the Simisear in front of him, deciding that this would require a long-term plan.
Ryan was not one to give up easily. Since this Simisear was not aggressive, he would, one day, move it with his own efforts!
Then, as His Highness Draconis said, he would live with it and use its flames to make fires for cooking.
After staying by the hot spring for a while, Draconis turned and returned to the tent that served as the Lord's Hall.
He called Old Butler Alfred and asked, "Are there any people in the territory who can fire bricks and make mortar?"
Alfred pondered for a moment, then replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, I recall there are a few blacksmiths in the territory who might be able to do these tasks."
"Have them come see me."
"Yes!"
Alfred left in a hurry, and in a short while, he returned to the Lord's Hall with three burly, middle-aged men with large beards.
Draconis glanced at them; the three were named Glo, Rune, and Morik, from left to right.
Alfred introduced them, "Your Highness, these three are all highly skilled blacksmiths. When we were in the Royal City, they were the ones who smelted the iron swords for the soldiers and the tools for the farmers to cultivate."
Draconis nodded, then looked at the three and asked, "Can anyone fire bricks and make mortar?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, I can!" Morik, on the far right, raised his hand. He hesitated for a moment and said, "It's just that there are no materials in the territory currently. To fire bricks, we need enough clay, and to make mortar, we need a sufficient quantity of lime ore."
Clay and lime... "You don't need to worry about the fire problem; I will solve that. My meaning is, if there are enough materials, you can fire bricks and make mortar, right?" Draconis asked.
"That's right!"
Draconis nodded. He thought of the mountain where the Aron resided; the mineral resources there were very rich, and perhaps clay and lime could be found there.
At this moment, Glo, one of the three, added, "It would be great if that monster were here."
"Monster?" Draconis was slightly taken aback.
Glo: "Reporting to Your Lord, it is a monster that can create concrete out of thin air using its own power. We humans learned this technique from it."
Listening to this description, Draconis quickly thought of a Pokémon.
Conkeldurr!
Whether it's Timburr, Gurdurr, or their final evolution, Conkeldurr, they are all Pokémon that appear on construction sites to help with work.
The reason is none other than their love for helping with construction work.
And Conkeldurr can even mix the rock energy and fighting energy within its body to stir and condense rock energy into strong and sturdy concrete out of thin air.
If it were here, the urbanization progress of this territory could be accelerated.
"I understand. I will send people to search for this monster later," Draconis said again. "Additionally, I have a task that requires your three to help."
"What?" the three asked.
"I previously sent people to investigate the surroundings, and they found traces of what appeared to be large mineral veins on a mountain near the territory. I need you to go and investigate," Draconis said.
If they could find clay, then they could start the work of firing bricks now.
Of course, that would have to wait until Ryan caught that Simisear.
It is a Fire-type Pokémon, capable of easily spewing extremely hot flames, making it perfectly suitable for firing bricks.
Moreover, he also had plenty of sweets that Simisear loved to eat, and he could use these sweets as Simisear's salary later, Draconis thought.